Rope lock



Jam. 28, W36 ULFERS ROPE LOCK Filed Oct. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rope locks.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rope lock arranged to adjustably secure a portion of a rope, whereby a loop of any desired size may be formed, in a manner so that the loop will not slip nor tighten, and permitting the looped portion of the rope to be engaged with a vehicle part, a post, support, or other object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rope lock for securing a portion of a towing or supporting rope, the lock being of a character to permit the rapid securement or release of the engaged portion of the rope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rope lock which will wedgingly and frictionally engage a looped portion of a rope without damage to or strain on the engaged rope portion.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rope lock of the character described which, in addition to its loop-holding and engaging function, is formed with means permitting the easy, permanent attachment thereto of the end of a rope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rope lock which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to manipulate, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved rope lock, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved rope lock,

showing the end portion of a rope looped and secured by the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the rope lock prior to the permanent securement of the end portion of a rope thereto;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of rope lock;

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional view thereof taken on line 56 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of another modified form of rope lock, showing the end portion of a rope looped and secured by the device;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of this form of rope lock prior to the permanent securement of the end portion of a rope thereto;

Fig. 9 is a transverse. sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of still another modified form of rope lock with the rope end looped and secured by the device; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the rope lock taken on line ||H of Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will appear that the numeral 8 indicates an open frame of substantially oval form. One end portion of said frame is formed with an extension 9 having semi-circular side wall portions ID with malleable closure tongues ll projecting therefrom. Within said extension 9 there is a pointed prong l2.

Projecting upwardly from a medial portion of one side of the frame 8 is a curved post IS. The curvature of said post is first inwardly and then upwardly, and a rope seat I4 is provided thereby. A pointed prong i5 projects upwardly from said rope seat portion, and said prong is spaced from the inwardly, upwardly projecting portion of the post.

The opening 16 within the frame 8 is of oval shape, and in practice the size of the frame and opening is dependent upon the diameter of the rope to be used with the device. The curved ends I! of the oval opening it should be of a size and curvature to snugly accommodate the rope passed therethru. The wall portions of the frame 8 adjacent the ends I! of the opening [Bare beveled or tapered as at l8 to form inclined surfaces against which rope portions may seat, thereby avoiding sharp edges which might cut or strain the rope.

A rope I9 is provided for use with the frame 8, and an 'end of the rope should be permanently attached to the frame. This is accomplished by laying the rope end within the extension 9 and permitting the prong [2 to bite into said rope portion or to extend between strands thereof. Then the malleable tongues are bent over, as in broken lines in Fig. 4, with the result that the rope end will be securely confined within the extension and attached, as in Fig. 1.

In use, if the rope is to be hitched about an object, it is wrapped thereabout, and a medial portion of the rope, depending on the size of the loop desired, is pinched and is passed thru the opening it of the frame 8, from below. A portion of the loop above the frame is then disposed against the post l3 on the rope seat portion I in a manner so that the prong i bites into or engages between strands of the rope; When a pull is exerted the rope, the portion passed thru the frame will tend to flatten and will press firmly on the rope seat, and other portions of the rope will flatly, frictionally engage the beveled portions I8 of the frame. The binding action of the rope with respect to the frame portions will prevent slippage, and the loop will be securely maintained in its adjusted size and about the engaged object. To unhitch the rope it is merely necessary to raise the engaged portion of the same from the seat i4 and arm l3 and withdraw it thru the frame opening.

Obviously, the improved rope lock may be formed of any suitable metal which-will withstand the strain and stresses to which the de-. vice will be subjected. It may also be formed in various sizes, depending on the size ropeto be used therewith and the service to which it is to be put. For tow ropes, one of the improved locks may be secured to each end of the rope, and then each end portion of the rope may be quickly hitched about a portion ofa vehicle and be readily, releasably secured by the lock.

InFigs. 5 and 6 a slightmodification of the invention is illustrated. The oval frame 8' with an opening l6 therethru is provided with a rope end securing extension It. One side of the frame carries a rope hook 2| in the form of an inverted U projecting upwardly, outwardly and then down wardly from said frame portion. The .device is used in the same manner as the form of rope lock previously described, and a looped portion of therope is pushed upwardly thru the frame opening l6, and then a portion of the rope is pulled laterally and engaged under the hook 2!.

Pull on the rope will'cause the engaged part to become taut, and the frame and hook will bindingly engage it.

The modified form of rope lock illustrated by Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive is exactly similar to the.

form of rope lock illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive except that theframe 8" is formed on the side directly opposite the post IS" with an opening 22 affording access to oval opening it" withinthe frame. When a looped portion of a rope is to'be secured by the rope lock, said looped portion may be slipped into the oval opening 16'." laterallythru said side opening 22. Then said rope is adjusted and engaged in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 and as illustrated in '7. V

In the modification illustrated in Figs. and 11, the frame 3a is relatively fiat, and one side thereof is formed with a side opening 22 communicating with the main frame opening Mia.

One end of said frame is provided with an eyed extension 23 thru which the end portion of a rope It may be extended and tied or otherwise secured. The side of the frame Badirectly opposite the side opening 22 is formed with integral rope hook Zia shaped as an inverted U. Said hook 2 l a projects slightly upwardly and outi wardly and then downwardly. This form of rope lock, being'relatively flat; may be readily formed out of suitable metal as a stamping.

In use, the form of rope lock last described is extremely simple and convenient toadjust and manipulate. The looped portion of the rope .l9 is passed laterally thru the side opening 22' into the main frame opening 5641.: Prior to engaging the rope portion with the hook 2| a, puil on the outwardly extending portion of the rope will easily adjust the device and tighten the loop. When the proper adjustment is made, and with- V out any slippage occurring, 2. portion ofthe rope 5 may then be passed laterally under the hook 2 la,

and from there the rope is returned into the open ing lBa and below the end of the frame, asshown.

set forth. 7

What is claimed as the invention is: 7

LA rope lock, comprising a. frame having an elongated opening therein, the frame being formed with angularly directed tapered recesses at opposite ends of the opening'for receiving angularly extended portions of a rope projected thru the opening of the frame, and means car-' ried by a side portion of the frame for engaging an intermediate portion of the rope and holding it laterally of said angularly extended rope pcr- 25 tions= 2. rope lock, comprising a continuous frame having an elongated opening therein entirelysnrrounded by the frame, the frame; being formed with angularly directed tapered recesses at opposite ends of the opening for receiving angularly' extended portions of a rope' projected thru the frame opening, clamp means projecting from an end of the frame for the permanent connection of a rope end, a post integral with a medial side portion of the frame and projecting away from the plane of, the same, the post and a portion of the frame forming a seat laterally of the frame opening for engaging an intermediate portion of the projected rope, and a rope-engaging prong 40 projecting from the rope seat and spaced from a side portion of the post.

3. A rope lock, comprising an elongated frame 'having an opening'therein entirely surrounded by said frame, and a post integral with a medial side portion of the frame and projecting into said opening but terminating a substantial distance short of the opposite side of the frame, said post beingfcrmed witha. rope engaging seat. 7 i

4. A rope iock, comprising an elongated frame having an opening therein entirely surrounded by said frame, and a curved post integral with a medial side portion of the frame and projecting over saidopening but terminating substantially midway of the transverse dimension of said open- 5 ing, said post being formed with a rope engaging seat laterally of a side of the frame.

5; A rope lock, comprising an elongated frame having an'opening therein entirely surrounded by said frame, clamp means projecting from an .0 end of the frame for the permanent connection of a, rope end, a curved post integrai with a medial side portion of the frame and projecting adjacent said opening but terminating substantially midway of the transverse dimension of said opening, the post and a portion of the frame forming a rope seat lateraliy'of the opening in the frame, and a rope engaging prong projecting from the rope seat spacedly from a side portion of the post. 7

' IRA ULFERS. 

